Even more surprising, said Stone, the team found that “as soon as the puppet goes up on somebody’s arm, the puppeteer ceases to exist.” Jim was delighted. “I’m working with Ernie, [who] has no bottom half or legs or anything like that. He ends at the waist,” Jim explained. “Yet, the kids will look right at Ernie and me—this strange, bearded man—standing right there, talking for the puppet, and there’s no question the kids believe Ernie is a real personality.”
